This article records new taxa of fossil archosaurs of every kind that was described during the year 2021, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of archosaurs that occurred in 2021.
Pseudosuchians New pseudosuchian taxa NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesAllodaposuchus iberoarmoricanusSp. novValidBlancoLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Argiles et Grès à Reptiles FormationAn allodaposuchid eusuchian, a species of Allodaposuchus.Amphicotylus milesiSp. novValidYoshida et al.Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)Morrison Formation()A goniopholidid crocodyliform, a species of Amphicotylus.AntaeusuchusGen. et sp. novValidNicholl et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kem Kem GroupA peirosaurid crocodylomorph. The type species is A. taouzensis. AphaurosuchusGen. et sp. novValidDarlim, Montefeltro & LangerLate Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian)Bauru BasinA baurusuchid crocodylomorph. The type species is A. escharafacies.BrachiosuchusGen. et sp. novValidSalih et al.Late CretaceousKababish FormationA dyrosaurid crocodylomorph. The type species is B. kababishensis.BurkesuchusGen. et sp. novValidNovas et al.Late Jurassic (Tithonian)Toqui FormationAn early member of Mesoeucrocodylia. The type species is B. mallingrandensis. Caipirasuchus attenboroughiSp. novValidRuiz et al.Late Cretaceous (Turonian-Campanian)Santo Anastácio FormationA sphagesaurid crocodylomorph, a species of Caipirasuchus.ChinatichampsusGen. et sp. novValidStocker, Brochu & KirkEocene (Uintan-Duchesnean)Devil's Graveyard Formation()A caiman. The type species is C. wilsonorum. CoronelsuchusGen. et sp. novValidPinheiro et al.Late Cretaceous (Turonian)Araçatuba FormationA sphagesaurian crocodylomorph. The type species is C. civaliCricosaurus albersdoerferiSp. novValidSachs, Young, Abel, & MallisonLate Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)Torleite FormationA metriorhynchid thalattosuchian, a species of Cricosaurus.Cricosaurus puelchorumSp. novValidHerrera, Fernández & VennariEarly Cretaceous (Berriasian)Vaca MuertaA metriorhynchid thalattosuchian, a species of Cricosaurus. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021.Cricosaurus rauhutiSp. novValidHerrera, Aiglstorfer & BronzatiLate Jurassic (Tithonian)Mörnsheim FormationA metriorhynchid thalattosuchian, a species of Cricosaurus.DongnanosuchusGen. et sp. novValidShan et al.EoceneYouganwo FormationAn alligatoroid belonging to the group Orientalosuchina. The type species is D. hsui.EptalofosuchusGen. et sp. novValidMarinho et al.Late CretaceousUberaba FormationA notosuchian crocodylomorph. The type species is E. viridi. Announced in 2021; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2022.EtjosuchusGen. et sp. novValidTolchard et al.Middle TriassicOmingonde FormationA non-crocodylomorph loricatan. The type species is E. recurvidens.GunggamaranduGen. et sp. novValidRistevski et al.Pliocene or PleistoceneA tomistomine crocodylian. The type species is G. maunala. KocurypeltaGen. et sp. novValidCzepiński et al.Late Triassic (Norian)Lissauer BrecciaAn aetosaur. The type species is K. silvestris.Sebecus ayrampuSp. novValidBravo, Pol & García-LópezPaleoceneMealla FormationA sebecid mesoeucrocodylian, a species of Sebecus.YanjisuchusGen. et sp. novValidRummy et al.Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian)Longjing FormationA paralligatorid crocodyliform. The type species is Y. longshanensis. Announced in 2021; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2022.
General pseudosuchian research A study on the phylogenetic relationships of pseudosuchian archosaurs, aiming to determine drivers of body size evolution in this group, is published by Stockdale & Benton (2021); the study is subsequently criticized by Benson et al. (2022). The first occurrence of the track type "Chirotherium" lulli (inferred to be produced by a pseudosuchian archosaur) from western North America is reported from the Owl Rock Member of the Chinle Formation (Utah, United States) by Milner et al. (2021). A study on the skeletal anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Revueltosaurus callenderi is published by Parker et al. (2021). A study on the skull anatomy and likely feeding habits of Effigia okeeffeae is published by Bestwick et al. (2021).
Aetosaur research Description of the braincase of Aetosauroides scagliai, based on data from specimens from the Upper Triassic Candelária Sequence (Brazil), is published by Paes Neto et al. (2021). Description of the skull Aetosauroides scagliai, and a study on the likely diet and paleobiology of this aetosaur, is published by Paes Neto et al. (2021). A study on the anatomy of the axial skeleton of Aetosauroides is published by Paes-Neto et al. (2021), who propose that Polesinesuchus aurelioi is a junior synonym of Aetosauroides scagliai. An incomplete, largely articulated postcranial skeleton of a basal aetosaur, possibly distinct from Aetosauroides scagliai, and preserving anatomical features which aren't often preserved in aetosaur specimens (including extensive appendicular armor and a well-preserved caudal ventral carapace), is described from the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation (Argentina) by Hecket, Martínez & Celeskey (2021). An osteoderm of Typothorax coccinarum with punctures and scores which are likely bite marks is described from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation (Arizona, United States) by Drymala, Bader & Parker (2021), who interpret this finding as supporting the hypothesis that aetosaurs were prey items of large archosauromorphs. Reyes, Parker & Marsh (2021) describe the first complete articulated skull of Typothorax coccinarum from the Owl Rock Member of the Chinle Formation (Petrified Forest National Park), and evaluate the implications of this specimen for the knowledge of the relationships and morphological diversity of aetosaurs. A study on the biomechanical properties of the skull of Neoaetosauroides engaeus is published by Taborda, Desojo & Dvorkin (2021). Revision of isolated braincases of Desmatosuchus from the Placerias Quarry locality in the Chinle Formation (Arizona, United States) is published by von Baczko et al. (2021), who report the presence of two species of Desmatosuchus (D. spurensis and D. smalli) at the Placerias Quarry.
Crocodylomorph research A study on the morphological diversity of skull and jaw shape in crocodylomorphs throughout their evolutionary history is published by Stubbs et al. (2021). A study on the evolution of the skull morphology in crocodyliforms is published by Felice, Pol & Goswami (2021). A study on the anatomy, phylogenetic relationships and stratigraphy of the holotype specimen of Notochampsa istedana is published by Dollman et al. (2021). A study on the skull anatomy and phylogenetic placement of Eopneumatosuchus colberti is published by Melstrom, Turner & Irmis (2021). A study on the bite force in mesoeucrocodylians throughout their evolutionary history is published by Gignac, Smaers & O'Brien (2021). A study on feeding habits of notosuchians from the Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group (Brazil), as indicated by stable carbon and oxygen isotope data from tissues of notosuchians from two sites from Bauru Group, is published by Klock et al. (2021). Description of coprolites from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation (Brazil) found in association with skeletons of baurusuchid and sphagesaurid crocodylomorphs, and a study on the implications of these coprolites for the knowledge of the diet of these crocodylomorphs, is published by de Oliveira et al. (2021). A study on the morphological variation in the dentition of uruguaysuchid crocodylomorphs is published by Figueiredo & Kellner (2021). A study on the bone histology and growth dynamics of Araripesuchus, based on data from specimens from the La Buitrera Palaeontological Area (Río Negro Province, Argentina), is published by Fernández Dumont et al. (2021). A study on the resistance to stress of the skull of Araripesuchus gomesii, and on its implications for the knowledge of likely diet of this crocodylomorph, is published by Nieto et al. (2021). New partially preserved skull of Campinasuchus dinizi is described from the Fazenda São José (Adamantina/Vale do Rio do Peixe Formation, Brazil) by Darlim et al. (2021), who evaluate the implications of this specimen for the knowledge of the distribution of baurusuchids in the Late Cretaceous of South America. The first known baurusuchid yearling is described from the Adamantina Formation (Brazil) by dos Santos et al. (2021). New baurusuchid specimen, providing new information on the skeletal growth in baurusuchids, is described from the Upper Cretaceous Adamantina Formation (Brazil) by Marchetti et al. (2021). A study on the anatomy of the endocranial structures of Zulmasuchus querejazus, and on its implications for the knowledge of the head posture, hearing capabilities and likely lifestyle of this sebecid, is published by Pochat-Cottilloux et al. (2021). New soft tissue records for thalattosuchians are reported from the Late Jurassic localities of Wattendorf and Painten (Bavaria, Germany) by Spindler et al. (2021), who interpret their findings as indicating the skin of metriorhynchids lacked any traces of scales or scutes and instead showed folded and transverse fibers. A study on the nasal and paranasal anatomy of thalattosuchians, and on its implications for the knowledge of the evolution of the paranasal sinus system and nasopharyngeal ducts in Thalattosuchia, is published by Cowgill et al. (2021). Description of the cranial and endocranial anatomy of Macrospondylus bollensis is published by Wilberg et al. (2021). A study on the innervation of the rostrum of metriorhynchoid thalattosuchians, and on its implications for the knowledge of the somatosensory abilities of these crocodylomorphs, is published by Bowman et al. (2021). Isolated metriorhynchid tooth crowns, representing some of the most recent known occurrences of Metriorhynchidae worldwide, are described from the Valanginian Kopřivnice Formation (Czech Republic) by Madzia et al. (2021), who interpret these specimens as evidence of the presence of two distinct lineages of geosaurin metriorhynchids in the area of Czech Republic during the Early Cretaceous. A study on the anatomy of the braincase of a metriorhynchid specimen belonging or related to the species "Metriorhynchus" brachyrhynchus, and on the evolution of neurosensory and endocranial systems of metriorhynchids, is published by Schwab et al. (2021). A study on the anatomy of the snout of Dakosaurus andiniensis, and on the evolution of the facial anatomy of thalattosuchians, is published by Fernández & Herrera (2021), who interpret their findings as indicative of presence of anatomical adaptations likely helping drainage of nasal glands (probably excreting salt). A study on histology and stable isotope geochemistry of the fossil material of Goniopholis and Dyrosaurus, and on their implications for the knowledge whether these crocodylomorphs were ectotherms or endotherms, is published by Faure-Brac et al. (2021). A study on the evolution of tethysuchian and gavialoid crocodylomorphs from the Campanian to the Thanetian is published by Jouve (2021). A study on the histology of the humeri and femora of Hyposaurus rogersii is published by Pellegrini et al. (2021). A study on the anatomy of the braincase and inner ear of Rhabdognathus aslerensis is published by Erb & Turner (2021). A study on the anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of Cerrejonisuchus improcerus is published by Scavezzoni & Fischer (2021), who also provide new information on the anatomy of the postcranial skeletons of Congosaurus bequaerti and Hyposaurus rogersii, and provide evidence of a distinctive postcranial anatomy of dyrosaurids among crocodyliforms.